we will not negotiate the end to medicare. we will negotiate reforms and improvements to medicare. we will not negotiate the end of medicare. i don't know what it is with these republicans, why they are so obsessed with asking senior citizens on medicare to be the very first to sacrifice the most. we ought to be looking at other priorities first. >> congressman, we asked the question a lot about the white house holding their ground. what about boehner, what if he gives in on this issue? what do you think that does to him politically? does it enhance his position, because he could always say, well, the majority of american people want these tax cuts for the 98% or does this make him toxic? >> i think there is a time for politics and a time for governing. we are now approaching this fiscal cliff. it is time to govern. this election was a mandate for solutions. it was a mandate for consensus and compromise. house democrats have already said we would compromise. we want to get to higher ground with the republicans. i hope that speaker boehner will also see the handwriting on the wall a